I have started making some yummy smoothies for the kids as a mid-morning snack, and I have to say they are quite good! Here's what I use:
Depending on the fruit/tofu combo, I can make some great variations. I use Sunrise Tofu Dessert, fresh and/or frozen fruit, skim milk (to keep the smoothie from getting too thick) and yogurt. Easy Peasy! They amounts of each are up to you, but I usually add approximately:
2 cups fruit (blended)
1/2 cup yogurt
1/4-1/2 cup milk
1 package of tofu (they are sold in pairs)
** You could also add some wheat germ or liquid vitamin supplements to the mix to boost the nutritional value if your kids are picky eaters. They would never know!
Some of the flavours we like:
Bananas, French Vanilla yogurt (or plain), milk, and Banana Tofu Dessert -- for the cheeky monkeys in your house.
* Add a dollop of chocolate syrup to the above for a choco/banana flavour!
Frozen (or fresh) strawberries, bananas, strawberry yogurt, milk, and Banana Tofu Dessert -- for a classic strawberry/banana flavour.
* Use Coconut Tofu Dessert in the above mixture (instead of banana) for a yummy Pina Colada flavour! My favorite!
Peaches (peeled), French Vanilla yogurt (or plain), milk, and Peach & Mango Tofu Dessert -- tropical!
* You could also add some fresh mango to the above mixture to increase the flavour, but they can be expensive out of season!
Freshly squeezed lime juice, French Vanilla yogurt (or plain), milk, and Key Lime Tofu Dessert -- for the more "mature" pallate! I haven't tried this one yet, but I want to! Kids may not like this one as much.
The proof is in the photo! A guilt-free snack in only a few minutes -- but the kids think it's a real treat!
I have to admit, we don't get the chance to take leisurely walks these days. We have a few great parks within a short driving distance, but it just isn't something that we think to do. There is always something going on -- work, school, gymnastics, swimming, birthday parties.... -- so when we actually have a few spare hours around the house, it is usually taken up with housework, renos... or just plain vegging.
Mike suggested that we take the kids to Campbell Valley Park to feed the birds, and I thought it was a great idea! I used to take my daycare kids there all the time as an afterschool activity. It was free (worked for my budget) and the kids loved hunting for birds and squirrels! I would often buy bird and squirrel food, and the kids would litter the paths with enough seeds to feed a small army of critters!
I don't think this was the first time the twins had been to the park -- but it may have! They loved it!
We chose to leave the stroller in the van -- despite the very long walk we would be taking -- so that the twins could really enjoy the trails. We knew they would be crying to get free anyway! It slowed us down quite a bit, but they really taught us that there was much to see on the ground (not just in the trees).
Brianna did a great job staying still so that the wee Chickadees could land on her hand to eat some seeds. When she was much smaller, she would be brave enough to put her hand out, but would jump and shoo the birds away once they came near her!Ainsley tried her best to feed the birds but she was just too little. Mike & I lifted the twins to our level so that they could watch the birds eat from our hands.
An excellent couple of hours had by all. Now that we have re-discovered this great park, we will be sure to go back often!
PS...I apologize for the duplicate photos to my Vox neighbours who also happen to be Facebook friends! :-)
I found this pattern on a free crochet pattern website that I subscribed to, and I immediately thought that it looked easy enough that even I could do it. I went to my local Michael's and bought up all the yarn I would need for 3 ponchos and started work on Brianna's. As it turned out, I have a smaller-than-average pre-schooler because I practically finished the poncho and had to completely pull it apart and start over. It just fell off her. It's not like my guage was way out, I followed the size dimentions, but it ended up way too wide in the shoulders. Thankfully, it did not take long to make.
Anyway, I made some adjustments to the pattern and finished her poncho just as she was finishing up the school year. She was so proud of it! She wore it everywhere, and told anyone who would listen that I made it for her! I received a lot of compliments on it, so I felt good about making some for the twins. I tried Brianna's poncho on Ainsley, made another adjustment to the pattern and started the toddler size. I finished Kaitlyn's during our trip to Drumheller (you can get a lot of crocheting done in the back seat of a mini van on a road trip!), and started Ainsley's on the same trip. I wouldn't let Katie wear hers until Ainsley's was done to prevent fights, so they had to wait a bit.
I was quite pleased with how they turned out:
I used Lion Brand Boucle and Fun Fur yarn for all of the ponchos: "Sorbet" & "Raspberry" for Ainsley, "Parfait" and "Violet" (I think) for Kaitlyn, and "Jelly Bean" & "Red" for Brianna. They are incredibly warm, so I think they will be nice for the early fall when a jacket is too much.
To change the patterns to fit my girls, I made the panels for Brianna's measure 12x20" and the panels for the twins were 10x17. I also made coat hook loops on the inside neck line so that they can be hung up properly without having to push the coat hook through the stitching (I just made a foundation chain and sewed that on). One last change: I made the Fun Fur trim at the bottom two rows thick instead of one for the twins ponchos and I like it better that just one. Brianna wouldn't let me add to hers though!
Sorry about the pics... they were the best I could get at the time! :-)
I have been neglecting my blog for the summer, but after catching up on some of my favorite bloggers in my 'hood, I see I'm not the only one. It is late, so I won't say too much right now. Just expect to see many posts as I catch you all up with my summer!
I will share this one photo I took of my daughter during one of our family trips:
I noticed that Brianna was starting to get freckles on her nose and cheeks a few months ago. I just love them, and I think they add a bit of innocence and charm to her face! She seems curious about them too. Everytime I remark that I see some new ones, she runs to the mirror and closely inspects her face!
By the way, thanks to a fellow Pampered Chef consultant that I met in Toronto, I now know how to zoom in REALLY close up with my camera! She had the same one at the conference, so I got some great pointers. I guess it pays to read the whole freakin' manual!
